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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of Pastor Curtis Jefferson Jr. of |
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Weatherford on November 10, 2024, at the age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, Curtis Jefferson was born to Curtis Jefferson Sr. |
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and Pearlie Thomas-Jefferson on February 1, 1945, in Wortham, and |
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he grew up with the companionship of five siblings, Ruby, Chrissie, |
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Margaret, Sandra, and Willie; after graduating from the F. W. |
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Wheeler School for African American students, where he |
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distinguished himself as an outstanding athlete and salutatorian of |
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his class, he went on to attend Navarro Junior College, becoming the |
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school's first Black basketball player; and |
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WHEREAS, On March 17, 1962, Mr. Jefferson exchanged wedding |
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vows with the former Sarah Jean Thomas, and they shared a fulfilling |
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marriage that spanned more than five decades before her passing; |
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together, the couple raised four children, Paula, Douglas, Darla, |
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and Patrick, and through the years, Mr. Jefferson had the pleasure |
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of seeing his family grow to include two grandchildren and a |
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great-granddaughter; and |
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WHEREAS, Beginning in 1973, Mr. Jefferson worked for Gulf |
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South Pipeline in Wortham and then for Chevron Pipe Line in |
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Weatherford, spending 34 years with the companies; in 1987, he |
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embarked on a distinguished career in the ministry, establishing |
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New Hope Baptist Church in Weatherford as founding pastor; he |
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served as the church's only pastor for three and a half decades |
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until his retirement in 2022, and he preached at other area churches |
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as well; civically engaged, he gave generously of his time to a |
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number of boards and committees, including the Weatherford College |
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Foundation Board, and he also coached youth sports; among many |
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accolades, he received the Earl King Award from the Christian Men's |
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Fellowship of Parker County, and the Weatherford City Council |
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proclaimed March 27, 2022, as Pastor Curtis Jefferson Day in his |
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honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply dedicated to his family, his faith, and his |
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community, Curtis Jefferson earned the lasting respect and |
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admiration of all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Pastor Curtis Jefferson Jr. and |
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extend heartfelt condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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children, Paula Jefferson-Gratts, Douglas Jefferson, and Patrick |
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Jefferson; to his grandchildren, Nicole Jefferson-Theriot and her |
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husband, Zach, and Andrianna Jefferson-Polk; to his |
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great-granddaughter, Olivia Jean Theriot; to his sister-in-law, |
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Jewell Maddox; to his brothers-in-law, Robert Young and Pastor |
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Cecil Crutchfield; to his aunt, Lillie Thomas; and to his other |
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relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Curtis Jefferson. |